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17 Top Online Project Management Courses (Free & Paid)

17 Top Online Project Management Courses (Free & Paid)

By Ling Wong

Whether you’re a seasoned project manager or new to the profession, it’s becoming increasingly important to get continual training so you can stay current with the latest best practices and advance your career. There are many online project management courses you can take to get certified, prepare for the PMP® certification exam, or earn continuing education units to maintain your current certifications.

Not to mention, those who have earned and maintained a professional certification tend to command a higher salary than those who rely on experience alone.

Do you need certification in online project management courses to  be a project manager?

Not necessarily. The proliferation of project management software has opened the door to project management to many people who don’t consider themselves project managers. Despite the software available to all, some companies will still require a formalized certificate of some sort.

Workzone project mangement software doesn’t require a certification. Its easy enough for everyone to use, but powerful enough to handle complex work. Because people vary in skill sets, Workzone offers unlimited training to all customers. So, no need for additional courses!

Free Online Project Management Courses

There are quite a few reputable institutions offering project management courses with which you can get started at no cost. You may have to pay a fee to access additional features or have a certificate issued.

1. Alison – Diploma In Project Management

This course offers a comprehensive overview of project management and covers topics such as methodology, tool sets, and project lifecycle including analysis, planning, design, and evaluation.

It provides a good foundation for beginners who want to learn about the various phases of the system development lifecycle, as well as different types of documentation.

online project management courses

It takes about 6-10 hours to complete the course and you’ll have to take a final review test at the end. You can access the course materials for free and will have the opportunity to purchase an official Alison Diploma when you pass the course assessments.

2. Coursera – Online Project Management Specialization Courses

Coursera offers a series of specialization courses in project management, such as “Introduction to Project Management Principles and Practices Specialization” and “Initiating and Planning Projects.”

coursera project management courses

Coursera offers a series of specialization courses in project management, such as “Introduction to Project Management Principles and Practices Specialization” and “Initiating and Planning Projects.”

Many of these courses are delivered in conjunction with the University of California, Irvine. Most of these classes offer free access to course materials and require an additional fee if you want to have your course-work graded and receive a course certificate.

3. Oxford Home Study College – Online Project Management Courses (Short)

Oxford Home Study College is the UK’s leading specialist provider of distance learning professional courses.

This 80-hour course covers an introduction to project management, the role of the project manager, and a look into the project lifecycle.

Upon completion of the curriculum, you’ll be emailed a certificate issued by the college at no extra charge.

4. Cybrary – Project Management Professional (PMP)

This 10 CEU/CPE 5.5-hour online PMP training course will show you how to initiate, plan, and manage a project, as well as the process of analyzing risk, monitoring and controlling project contracts, and developing schedules and budgets.

The in-depth course materials are geared toward the PMP certification exam, with a full library of self-paced training videos, practice exams, and additional resources such as “Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge: PMBOK® Guide.”

5. Latitude U – Effective Project Management

This free online course teaches key project management concepts including resource management, scope management, time management, budget management, and risk management.

It introduces the four phases of project management and students will learn how to meet project objectives while balancing the constraints of scope, budget, and resources.

6. Lynda.com – “Become a Project Manager” Learning Path

This 13-module learning path includes 23 hours of video training, covering project management foundations and Microsoft Project essentials, as well as the management of schedule, teams, change, budgets, communication, quality, procurement, stakeholders, risk, and integration.

Lynda.com is a PMI Registered Education Provider and the courses are qualified for professional development units (PDUs).

Lynda.com is LinkedIn’s online learning platform and it offers a 30-day free trial. Afterward, it’s $19.99 for the basic membership and $29.99 for the premium membership.

7. LinkedIn Learning

If you have a Premium LinkedIn subscription, you can access LinkedIn Learning online project management courses at no additional charge. Otherwise, you can get started with a 30-day free trial and pay $24.99 per month afterward.

The platform offers a good number of training videos on project management, most of them around an hour in duration, on the various aspects of the discipline.

Many of these courses are produced by Lynda.com, a PMI Registered Education Provider and qualified for professional development units (PDUs).

Top Paid Project Management Courses

Most of these paid courses are geared towards helping students prepare for the PMP® exam and are more comprehensive in nature.

Some of them are offered by universities and students will complete the program with a certification or a degree:

1. Brain Sensei – Complete PMP® Exam Prep Course

This six-module comprehensive online course meets the 35-hour criteria (PDUs) for the PMP® exam and covers the following topics:

  • Project Management Overview
  • Initialing a Project
  • Planning a Project
  • Executing a Project
  • Monitoring & Controlling a Project
  • Closing a Project

The materials are delivered through engaging animated stories and interactive content, with self-assessment to track progress and test exams with over 900 practice questions to help you prepare for the big day.

The fee for all six-modules are $399.99, or you can purchase each module individually.

2. Project Management Institute – 60 PDU Project Management Course Bundle

Upon completion of this online, self-paced course bundle, you’ll receive 60 PDU to maintain your PMP certification.

Topics covered include:

  • 4CShare Global Project Management Simulation
  • Agile Team Challenges
  • Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers
  • Ethics for Project Managers
  • Introduction to Agile
  • Project Management Team Leadership
  • Quality Management Basics

The cost for the entire bundle is $1,395 for non-members or $999 for PMI members.

3. Colorado State University – Online Project Management Certificate

This online project management certificate program uses the same curriculum and is taught by the same faculty as the in-classroom section in Denver. It is condensed to a 16-week schedule for busy working professionals.

This course will prepare you for the PMP® exam and the certificate of completion reflects 48 Contact Hours in a PMI-approved course.

The tuition costs $3,395 and qualified students may be eligible for funding through the Colorado Workforce Development Center.

4. Master of Project Academy – PMP® Project Management Professional Certification Training

This certification training includes 300+ lectures, 750+ PMP practice questions, sample PMP certification exam, PMP cheat sheets, and more. It satisfies the 35 Contact Hour (PDU) requirement to enroll in the PMP® exam.

The self-paced online course’s hands-on training approach enables participants to understand the 5 Process groups and 10 knowledge areas as prescribed by PMI® and be prepared for the PMP® certification exam.

Upon completion of the course, you’ll receive a certificate.

The academy offers different payment options for this course: $37 per month, $185 per year, or $370 for lifetime access.

5. Master of Project Academy – Project Management Training Bundle

This bundle includes all six project management courses from the Master of Project Academy, covering PMP, Agile, Scrum, and Microsoft Project designed for IT and business professionals.

There are 400+ lectures and 60+ hours of online training materials designed and led by seasoned industry professionals with a deep well of academic and field knowledge.

You can access the bundle at $62 pre month, $307 per year, or $590 for lifetime access.

6. Simplilearn – PMP Certification Training Course

This online course includes 35 hours of instructor-led training, 5 industry case studies, 12 scenario-based games, 35 hours of e-learning content, 83 quizzes, and 5 simulation exams.

Upon completion, participants will earn the 35 PDUs required to take the PMP certification exam or maintain their PMP certification.

The course is offered at two different price points for individuals — $499 for self-paced learning and $999 for Flexi-Pass, which includes 90 days of access to 15+ instructor-led online training classes. Corporate training option is also available for businesses upon inquiry.

7. Trainings24x7 – PMP® Online Training

This interactive online project management course is conducted via WebEx Virtual Classroom featuring document-sharing, 2-way audio, video and text chat, screen sharing, Q&A sessions, and more.

The program takes place over the course of 4 weekends, with 2 sessions per week.

In addition, you’ll have access to training videos, mobile app, flashcards, chapter test questions, full-length simulated PMP tests, exam-taking tips, and support.

Participants will earn the 35 PMI Contact Hours required to enter the PMP exam, plus get assistance to submit the PMP® exam application till 45 days from training.

Trainings24x7 also offers an e-learning option for PMP certification that includes videos, online study materials, mobile app, and practice exam questions for $76.

8. Penn State World Campus – Graduate Certificate in Project Management

This interdisciplinary AACSB accredited program uses problem-based learning to provide a strong foundation in project management theory and practice. In addition, Penn State is a Project Management Institute (PMI)® Registered Education Provider.

Courses are based on real-world business needs and are taught by industry-respected faculty. You can select courses that cover topics including planning, cost and value management, project control, workforce issues, and strategic issues.

If you’re taking fewer than 12 credits per semester, each credit will cost $975. For 12 or more credits per semester, you’ll pay a flat fee of $11,700.

9. Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies – Certification in Project Management

Led by a faculty of industry experts and practitioners, this program is built on the core processes defined in the Project Management Institute’s “A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge.”

georgetown university project management course

There’s also a strong emphasis on helping participants develop the people skills and real-world practices required to successfully manage projects on time, on budget, and within scope.

Upon completion of the program, students will meet the requirements needed to sit for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam or the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® exam.

Total program tuition for all 6 courses is $6,570 with most course materials included.

10. Walden University – MS in Project Management

Classes are delivered in an 8-week format during this online course. The program is accredited by the Global Accreditation Center (GAC) of the Project Management Institute (PMI)® while Walden is an approved Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.) of project management training by PMI.

Each project management course is worth 45 professional development units toward PMP® certification.

Class curriculum covers budgeting and operation management, planning and administering project contracts, and sustainability in project, portfolio and program management, as well as social impact in project management.

A bachelor’s degree or higher is required for entrance into this program.

Choose a Program that Suits Your Needs

There are many options when it comes to selecting an online project management course. To make the right decision, you need to consider your objectives, preferences, expectations, and budget.

While the PMP® credential is industry agnostic, regional job availability and local government subsidies may affect the curriculum of a program and you’ll want to ensure it’s geared toward the industry you work in.